When we drink water from a bottle or the kitchen faucet, we’re expecting it to taste clean and crisp. This is important because we require regular hydration to stay fit, healthy, and active throughout the entire day. But, the presence of contaminants, such as chlorine, heavy metals, chemicals, and more can degrade the taste. For this reason, many people choose to use water filters to improve the quality and taste of their drinking water.

Which is the Best Water Filter?

This is a hard question to answer without knowing which specific contaminants are affecting your water quality. This is why it’s recommended to get your water tested to determine which contaminants are present and their concentrations. But, generally speaking, it’s helpful to know the capabilities of water filtration methods:

  1. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters are designed to remove organic contaminants.
  2. Reverse osmosis (RO) filters can remove a wide variety of dissolved contaminants.
  3. Ultraviolet (UV) germicidal lights are not strictly water filters, but they do render harmful microorganisms inert which improve the health of the drinking water.

All water filtration systems are not created equal and even if you do choose the correct filter system, the quality can vary a great deal. So, it’s important to select a system that has a Water Quality Association (WQA) or a National Science Foundation (NSF) mark. This proves that the system has been thoroughly tested to independent standards for performance and quality.

Can Water Filters Improve Drinking Water?

Absolutely. If your drinking water has a bad taste, odor, color, or other problems using the correct water filtration system can fix those problems. These systems can also remove potentially harmful contaminants that can find their way into your drinking water. But, if there is a deeper underlying water quality issue more testing may be required to find a solution. In some cases, you may need to install multiple water treatment systems in series to remove a wider spectrum of contaminants.

When Do I Change the Water Filters?

This will vary depending on the type of filter and the volume of water you use. But, most modern water filters require a replacement every 3-6 months. If you’re unsure, check the manufacturer’s guidelines and follow them carefully. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to ensure that you don’t miss a water filter change. It’s always a good idea to have a few spare water filters on-hand and you may even save money with a bulk purchase.

In Conclusion

There are a wide variety of water filtration systems on the market to solve water quality issues. So, there is no reason to suffer from poor quality water that tastes bad. A water filter can be a simple pitcher for the refrigerator, but this won’t do much beyond improving some basic aesthetic water qualities. Installing a point-of-use or whole home water filtration system is the best option if you want to remove harmful contaminants.

If you want to improve the taste and quality of your drinking water, contact your local water treatment specialist today.